McLeod Co-Recipient of Mallory Award

May 24, 2009

May 24, 2009

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -Mike McLeod, the record-smashing running back on the Yale football team, has been named the co-winner of the William Neely Mallory Award, the most prestigious athletic award given to a senior male at Yale. The award was presented at the May 24 Class Day ceremonies.

McLeod owns the Yale career records for touchdowns (55), rushing yards (4,514), rushing attempts (1,063), all-purpose yards (5,320), 200-yard games (3) and 100-yard outings (19). He scored a dozen game-winning touchdowns and established an Ivy League standard by reaching the end zone in 18 straight games while helping the Elis go 23-7 over the last three autumns.

McLeod, the 26th Bulldog gridiron star to receive the Mallory Award since it was first handed out in 1954, is a four-time All-Ivy League (three-time first-team pick) selection who earned league MVP and All-America honors in 2007. McLeod led the Blue to a 2006 Ivy title with 19 scores, while he was the Ancient Eight's rookie of the year in 2005 after coming to the Elm City as the New Haven Register Player of the Year at New Britain (Conn.) High School.

The award citation reads, "William Neely Mallory Award, given to the senior man who on the field of play and in life at Yale best represents the highest ideals of American sportsmanship and Yale tradition." McLeod's performances made him the perfect choice for the award named after the Yale Class of 1924 athlete.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound back had his most prolific days as a Bulldog in 2007 against Lehigh (276 yards) in the Bowl and at Holy Cross (5 TDs). McLeod, who scored 43 touchdowns between his sophomore and junior seasons, ran for a school record 1,619 yards in 2007 despite playing almost half the campaign with a broken toe.